Colorado Pols: "Ignoring the position of most affected local governments, the State of Colorado, Senator Salazar, Reps. Udall and Salazar, and the nearly unanimous sentiment of citizens who participated in the BLM's planning process for Colorado's iconic Roan Plateau, the Bush Administration-on its much anticipated exit-has decided to open all the remaining unleased public lands for oil and gas drilling on and around the Roan this August. For the Bush Administration, apparently, ignoring everything it has heard during the planning process is an example that it 'worked for the past seven years with local officials, private citizens, state agencies, industry and environmental groups,' according to an op-ed by C. Stephen Allard of the Department of Interio."
More coverage from The Aspen Times. From the article:
The Bureau of Land Management announced Monday that it was including 55,000 acres of land on the Roan Plateau in its August lease sale. The agency's announcement immediately drew rebukes from Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, both of whom said the BLM ignored their proposals for the area. The BLM's Aug. 14 lease sale will include 55,186 acres in 31 parcels in the Roan Plateau Planning Area, according to the agency. Eighteen of the 31 parcels, which encompass a total 34,087 acres, are for the top of the plateau. The announcement that Roan acreage will be included in the August lease sale comes after years of controversy surrounding possible natural gas drilling on the western Colorado landmark. Several environmental groups and sportsmen who want to protect the area's wildlife have opposed the BLM's plan for drilling in the area. Some groups are even contemplating possible litigation to prevent it from it going forward.
But advocates for oil and gas development on the Roan Plateau say drilling can bring back hundreds of millions of dollars back to Colorado. The BLM has estimated that federal revenue from oil and gas royalties and lease sales could generate $857 million to $1.13 billion over the next 20 years. Colorado would receive an estimated $428 million to $565 million in money generated from oil and gas extraction on the Roan, according to the BLM estimates. In a statement expressing disappointment with the BLM's move, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said the state will not receive any money from the Aug. 14 Roan lease sales or ongoing royalties and gas revenues until the cleanup of the Anvil Points research station near Rulison is complete. "I am deeply disappointed that the administration is proceeding with its plan to auction off the entire top of the Roan Plateau for oil and gas development, despite objections by the state of Colorado," Salazar said in a prepared statement. "The BLM's plan ignores a set of sensible recommendations for the protection of wildlife habitat, the environment and other recreational resources that (Gov. Bill Ritter) and the state of Colorado developed last year, and which I have included in legislation that I have introduced in the U.S. Senate."
"2008 pres"
7:11:44 PM 
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